STAFF

Photo by Paul Staniland

Lucas Livingston, Executive Director
Lucas.Livingston@chpv.org | 773-234-6428

Lucas Livingston has served the Chicagoland community for nearly 20 years in the spheres of lifelong learning, creative aging, cultural administration, arts enrichment, and disability activism. Prior to joining Chicago Hyde Park Village, Lucas directed the Art Institute of Chicago’s therapeutic, health, wellness, and enrichment opportunities for older adult learners and people with disabilities. He is a frequent public speaker and published author in peer-reviewed journals on topics of lifelong learning, creative aging, cultural equity, and accessibility. He served as a steering committee member with the Arts for Brain Health Coalition and the Make Room @ The Table affinity group for professionals in the field of aging. He also served on the American Society on Aging’s LEARN Council (Lifetime Education and Renewal Network), the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Illinois Chapter’s Early-Stage Advisory Committee, and was a founding steering committee member with the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium. Lucas is also an avid homebrewer, beer art historian, and member of the Chicago-based Beer Culture Center's Board of Directors. As a University of Chicago alumnus, Lucas is especially pleased to serve the Hyde Park and surrounding communities in support of CHPV's mission to foster healthy aging in place.

Photo by Paul Staniland

Laura Voss-Allen, Assistant Director
Laura.Voss-Allen@chpv.org | 773-363-1933

Laura Voss-Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and German from Dominican University and worked in the IT field for 22 years before taking on motherhood and becoming Sales Coordinator for her husband’s company.

After returning to the Chicago area from California in 2007, Laura helped coordinate the care for her parents in the western suburbs who both became ill and lived with dementia but had expressed the desire to stay in their home. Laura is also an assistant Girl Scout leader and cookie manager for a troop in Hyde Park since 2010.

Laura is the "voice of the village," answering the main office phone line, processes memberships, donations, and transportation requests, trains and manages volunteers, and manages many of CHPV's dementia-friendly initiatives including our Memory Cafe in collaboration with the AKARAMA Foundation.

Renee Robinson, Volunteer and Village Visitor Manager
Renee.Robinson@chpv.org | 773-441-8457

Renee Robinson is an artist, educator, curriculum designer, and creative entrepreneur who believes that creativity has the power to connect generations, preserve culture, and enrich lives. As a retired educator and lifelong learner, she has dedicated her work to blending art, history, design, culture, and faith into meaningful experiences that inspire people of all ages. As the founder of Designing Integrity by Simply Dezigned, she develops innovative arts-based programs, creative resources, and intergenerational learning experiences that encourage imagination, critical thinking, and personal growth. Her work spans curriculum development, project-based learning, African American history and culture, surface pattern design, and immersive educational exhibits that bring stories, traditions, and creative expression to life. She is especially passionate about preserving and celebrating African American history through art and design. She creates projects that connect people across generations, encouraging families, educators, community organizations, and lifelong learners to explore the contributions of African American innovators, artists, writers, and leaders. Her vision is to make history engaging, relevant, and inspiring by transforming learning into hands-on, creative experiences that foster understanding, pride, and cultural appreciation.

Emeritus Interns

Sunny Kadesh, Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (October 2024–June 2026)
Shiyu Lin, Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (October 2023–May 2024)
Ella Bruining, Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (September 2022–September 2023)
Cierra Balog, Adler University Social Justice Practicum (October 2022–June 2023)
Sam McCarthy, Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (September 2021–June 2022)